Lessons in Magic and Disaster

by Charlie Jane Anders · 2025

When graduate student Jamie discovers she’s a powerful witch, she decides to share that secret with her mother, Serena, who has been holed up in a crumbling New England schoolhouse ever since the death of her wife and a career collapse. As Jamie balances a demanding dissertation on a mysterious 1749 spellbook with a queer romance and lingering family trauma, she teaches Serena the basics of magic in hopes of rekindling her spirit. But the past holds darker truths: hidden scandals and a long‑buried tragedy begin to surface, steering Serena toward dangerous enchantments that threaten both their lives. Jamie must untangle the ancient book’s secrets, confront the hidden history of her family, and master the true nature of magic before love and loss spiral out of control.